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You folks here in Chesley (and some of the Elliot’s over in Williamsford) may have heard the name Adam Scott Elliot. He was a miller and in 1858 he purchased the land upon which the Village of Chesley sits and became the town founder. He did some time in Williamsford too. But it appears that he spent most of his life here in Chesley. He is accredited as being the town founder. He cleared the land and he and his son John, a storekeeper and good citizen, did a lot to bring in business and develop the fledgling town so that by 1867 the wee village had a population of roughly 60 and a sawmill, gristmill, a couple of stores, and a shoemaker. The Chapter on the Town of Chesley in a work known as History of the County Bruce, Ontario, Canada says this about Adam Elliot: “Active and enterprising, he was a successful business man. In religion a staunch Presbyterian of the old school; kindly of heart, he did much good. Chesley has every reason to be proud of the man who was its founder.” [1] He died in 1899.
John H. Elliot was especially instrumental in developing the town and the surrounding roads for business and for bringing the railroad to town. The town land was owned by his father and him. When he surveyed lots, he didn’t keep every other lot for himself for future profit as a person driven by greed would have done. Rather, he sold them for $20 per lot and gave people as long as they needed to pay. He also started the town’s first bank. He died May 11, 1901. The town council passed a resolution upon his death in which was stated: “He was at all times most anxious to render assistance to all proper schemes for promoting its (the village’s) welfare, and he has left us a noble example in the many sacrifices he made to improve the material condition as well as the mental and moral welfare of the residents of this village. In him the business men have lost a wise and prudent adviser and the poor a generous friend.”[2] Like his father, John Elliot was a Presbyterian.
With respect to churches in this town, in the first decade there is nothing much to report. In 1870, a resident writing on town life declared that sermons in Chesley were like angels’ visits, few and far between.[3] But by 1875, another resident reported two gatherings. One was a Canada Presbyterian congregation pastored by Rev. John Bethune that met in a log house somewhere the second concession. The second was a Baptist congregation without a minister at the time. Apparently, the Baptists were the first in establishing a preaching outpost in 1859. The History then goes on to catalogue the arrival of the Associate Presbyterian Church in 1873, the Methodists in 1875 who became the United Church in 1925, and the Church of England and a German Evangelical Church which both built buildings in the mid-1880’s.
With respect to Geneva, the History writes: “Following close in point of time to the Baptists, the Presbyterians commenced to form the nucleus of a congregation afterwards to bear the name of the Geneva Presbyterian Church. The little body of worshippers met for worship in the log school-house which stood on lot 26, concession 3, of Elderslie. Every other Sunday from 1860 for a number of years the Rev. Geo. Bremner, the then lately ordained minister at Paisley, conducted the services. At times the village part of the congregation held services in Elliot's Hall. In 1872 a church was built in Chesley, and on October 20th, 1874,' the Rev. John Bethune was inducted as minister of the congregation. He was succeeded in 1879 by the Rev. John Ferguson, who after a most successful pastorate passed to his reward in 1890. It was while Rev. Mr. Ferguson was the minister of Geneva Church that the present commodious church building was erected, [The old church was sold for $1,000 to the Church of England congregation.] the opening of which took place January 11th, 1885, the Rev. Dr. Grant, Principal of Queen's University, officiating.”[4]
On June 9th, 1888 a fire struck the downtown businesses of Chesley. As the buildings were made of wood, nearly the whole of Mainstreet burned. There was a very interesting photograph taken from a hillside on the north east of town. It was taken after the fire damage was cleaned up and shows block basements waiting to be built upon. Just off center of the photograph, is Geneva, the Presbyterian Church. The only recognizable church building in the picture. Not to brag or anything but the picture speaks volumes to the role Presbyterians played in the founding of this town. We were always there and prominent.
I found that brief chapter on Chesley quite interesting if not exciting to read. This town was founded by Christians who were seeking the well-being, the peace, of the town in which they lived. The spiritual and moral life was important. This was very much unlike the towns that were popping up out West like Deadwood and Dawson City, where people were settling for reasons of economic prosperity. Alcohol abuse, gambling, and human sex trafficking were prominent. Having good morals and a place to worship was not on their minds. But here in Chesley, Christians who sought the welfare of the city were central to having a peaceful and prosperous place to live and raise a family.
Here we gather 150 years later. Chesley is facing the issues that most rural small towns face. The days of an industrial base have passed. The downtown businesses come and go. There’s plenty of stuff for Seniors to do, but the lack of industry means a lack of children. There’s also a drug problem among the younger generations. The funeral home is likely the most successful business in town (and you’ve got the best one around!). It’s a fight to keep a doctor in town and the hospital open. Churches are struggling and are slowly closing one by one. Residentially, there are some beautiful homes and some really wonderful people here. Some newer housing developments are springing up as Chesley is more and more becoming a retirement/bedroom community.
There are not many children in the area. Of those you do see, a good many are of Amish Mennonite who have bought a lot of the farms in the area. Of historical note, in the early 1900’s this church had a Sunday School enrollment of 104 boys and 102 girls and was taught by 23 teachers. That’s unimaginable. Camp Kintail, just south of Kincardine, is the flagship of Presbyterian Church in Canada’s camping program. It doesn’t see numbers like that during a week with a full contingent of campers.
Geneva has grown smaller but our members are still involved in the community. We serve in the Agricultural Society and help with the Fall Fair, Women’s Institute, the Fire Department and the Hospital Auxiliary, and enjoy curling. But sadly, these civic organizations are struggling for participants just as are the churches. There’s no rest for the weary. Our fundraiser meals are an opportunity for people in the community to sit down together to a good meal. They have the feel of a family reunion of good friends. This church was founded by Presbyterians who needed a place to worship. Now our surrounding community(s) are majoritively not Christian with no need for churches.
All that said, it doesn’t change the fact of our fundamental nature as a congregation, a congregation that continues to seek the well-being of the town. Our calling is the same as God’s calling to Abraham when he was in his late 70’s and 80’s – to go and be a blessing. We must continue to bless our respective communities. Just as it was said back in the days before there were churches in this town that a sermon was like an angel’s visit, few and far between, so each of you are a living sermon in this town. The faith, hope, and love you each embody as disciples of Jesus and the depth of friendship that you share together after years of fellowship is living water to hurting people who don’t know how to sing the song of praise that everywhere surrounds them. Bless this city! Amen.
[1] The Town of Chesley; History of the County Bruce, Ontario, Canada; https://electricscotland.com/history/canada/bruce/chapter28.htm
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
